Don’t Like the Name

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 3, 1871

Don’t Like the Name.

A CONVENTION of the friends of Sunday, assembled Nov. 29, 1870, in the United Presbyterian Church, New Concord, Ohio. Most of the sentiments expressed by the different speakers, sound, to one listening from a Bible standpoint, strangely incoherent and mixed. For instance, one is reported to have said, “Much harm is done to the sacredness of the Lord’s Day by the use of the heathenish term, Sunday, instead of the scriptural designations of the day.” Good, so far as the name is concerned; but why not state the whole truth, and acknowledge that the institution itself is as heathenish as the name? But he speaks of using the “scriptural designations of the day.” Good again, if he will only confine himself to such designations. But what does he mean by this? He evidently means, Lord’s Day, or Sabbath. But will he, or any one else, tell us where the first day of the week is ever called the Sabbath? Where is it ever called the Lord’s day? Rev. 1:10, isn’t the place; for the writer of the Revelation afterward speaks of the first day of the week, and calls it simply “first-day of the week.” John 20:1, 19. Where has Christ ever claimed the first day of the week as his? Where has he ever taken it into his lips, or given us any directions or any instruction whatever in regard to it? Where have the apostles ever given us any information respecting the setting apart this day to a holy use? or where have they ever so observed it? Nothing of the kind can be found. On the other hand, they have given directions for devoting it to secular employments, 1 Cor. 16:2, and they have set us an example for so doing. Acts 20:7–15. As a pretended scriptural institution, none can be more utterly and absolutely without foundation than the Sunday Sabbath. The Roman Catholic retort against the practice of Protestants in this respect, has in it scathing force: “If we should produce no better [reasons] for purgatory and prayers for the dead, invocation of the saints, and the like, they might have good cause indeed to laugh us to scorn.”

Another speaker, “hoped the Convention would take some action against the use of the term ‘Sunday’ instead of ‘Sabbath,’ as inconsistent with Christian character.” We do not wonder they are ashamed of the name; but let them not impose upon Christianity to get out of the dilemma. What right have they to take the term Sabbath and apply it to Sunday? Sabbath is a scriptural name, but Sunday is not a scriptural institution. The two do not belong together; and it would please us to know in what respect it is a mark of “Christian character”(?) to join them. In the name of truth, consistency, and Scripture, we protest against thus “stealing the livery of Heaven, to serve,” &c.

On another point, the perceptions of the Convention were much clearer. Thus “the Rev. James White” (not, however, the President of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association) is reported to have said: “The question [of Sunday observance] is closely connected with the National Reform movement; for until the government comes to know God, and honor his law, we need not expect to restrain Sabbath-breaking corporations.”

Exactly!